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Corruption is Zambia’s number one enemy - Panji

Corruption is Zambia’s number one enemy - Panji
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 09 Nov. 2010, 03:59 CAT

COLONEL Panji Kaunda has said development cannot come if corruption is not tackled with a lot of vigour. And Col Panji has expressed concern over President Rupiah Banda’s frequent trips. In an interview, Col Panji said corruption was the country’s number one enemy.

“Development cannot come if we don’t tackle corruption with all our vigour, with all our means at all levels. Whether it is the President giving out contracts, whether it is the minister involved in insider trading or whatever, corruption has to be fought because it is our number one enemy. Our Anti Corruption Commission is very active at these small crimes. Few weeks ago I saw in the newspaper that the Shakafuswa’s (Katuba MMD parliamentarian’s relative) were being hounded around for allegedly squandering some millions of kwacha, what about the US $8 million dollars that our former president has declared that as his personal money? Who is going to investigate that? The public want to know but our leaders have kept quiet,” Col Panji said.

He said it was not possible for a person to earn US$8 million dollars in ten years.

“How many Zambians would earn that $8 million in ten years? And who are those friends who donated? It means that’s money laundering. If you can’t investigate such cases then you can’t say you are fighting corruption.

In my view, that is why the government wants to the kill the abuse of office offence because that (Chiluba issue) is number one abuse of office and as a President whatever present you are given doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to the state,” Col Panji said.

He said his father, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, was given many presents in his era as president but that 99 per cent of the presents were given back to the state.

“If it was food it was given to various institutions, if it was money it was given to the national treasury and if it were cars they were given to government because nothing was given to him as Kaunda but as president of Zambia. To say that ‘I have got $8 million given by well wishers’, it is wrong! Thats abuse of office. So for them to say we should remove the abuse of office clause from the Anti Corruption Commission Act, it means they themselves would like to play the same game of receiving goods and take them when they leave office. We demand as Zambians the contents that strengthen the anti corruption regime,” Col Panji said.

He said the government had not given Zambians a convincing reason on why they wanted to remove abuse of office clause.

“If we are serious about fighting corruption, let us put back the abuse of office clause that is key. They haven’t given us a good reason on why they should remove that clause, are they trying to protect themselves and their friends who have abused office? But my warning to them is this, mulandu siuwola (a case does not rot) no matter how long it takes us but time will come when we shall follow them. Look at Augusto Pinochet (former president) in Chile. He and his colleagues are now facing charges for the crimes they committed many, many years ago. Even us Zambians, our children will follow those who are abusing office today. Nobody stays in government forever one day they will leave government and we shall follow them because what they are doing is killing our children,” Col Panji said.

And Col Panji said it was very expensive to move the President from one place to another.

“I think as Zambians we should see whether certain trips are worth it because those field officers (on presidential trips) have to be paid allowances and there is fuel involved. For example he (President Banda) last week was commissioning police houses here in Chipata, where is the Minister of Home affairs? Can’t that be done by the local government people here? Those are things (trips) that you can cut down but we are not saying he should not move but he can move when there is something very, very important. Unless we are serious with these things, this country will perpetually be depending on aid,” Col Panji said.

He also noted that there was need to acknowledge that rural areas needed a lot of aid which unfortunately was not being seen by economic experts from abroad.

“If an officer from IMF or World Bank arrives at the Lusaka Airport, he drives through Lusaka goes to Intercontinental Hotel, he meets people at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or finance, he shops at Manda Hill or Arcades they may think that Zambia is a developed country but look at the rural areas.

How are the Zambians in rural areas living? Until the schools in the rural areas are done, they tar roads in Sindamisale ( Eastern Province), people move around in comfort, we have medicine in hospitals, we can’t say we are doing well. This is our country and all of us should enjoy the cake,” said Col Panji.

His comments on the desperate living conditions of people in rural areas comes barely a week after the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund hailed Zambia’s economy as doing very well.

Labels: ACC, CORRUPTION, PANJI KAUNDA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 7:36 AM